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Ulmus glabra

Common names: Wych elm, mountain elm 

Irish name: Leamhán sléibhe 

Latin name: Ulmus glabra 

Family: Ulmaceae 

Origin: Native 

Tree type: Broadleaf deciduous tree

How it Looks

Shape, bark, twigs 

Wych elm can grow to 30m in height. The bark of a young wych elm is initially smooth and grey, becoming grey-brown and fissured as it gets older. The twigs are dark grey-brown, hairy and grow in zig-zags. 

Buds 

Leaf buds are densely covered in hair, displaying a purple-black colour. They are short, thick, and oval in shape. 

Leaves 

The leaves are large, measuring 7-16 cm in length, with an oval shape and toothed edges that taper at the tip. They exhibit asymmetry at their base, with the upper side having a rough, almost sandpaper-like texture. The upper side is dark green, while the underside is light green. The leaf turns yellow and brown in the autumn. 

Flowers 

In early spring, the wych elm showcases stunning red to purple flowers in clusters of 10-20 along its branches. These flowers appear before the leaves, which aids wind pollination. Elms have male and female reproductive parts within each flower, known as hermaphrodites. Dark red male anthers stick out from the female ovary, releasing pollen into the wind. Typically, each flower has four anthers. 

Fruits 

After wind pollination, the flowers develop into clusters of small (15 to 20 mm) flat-winged fruits known as samaras, which hold a seed at the centre of their papery discs. Falling from April to July, these fruits are wind-dispersed. While the seeds are viable for only a few days, they often successfully germinate, producing fast-growing seedlings. 

Similar species 

Hazel (Corylus avellana) has a similar leaf but lacks the asymmetric base characteristic of the wych elm. The English elm (Ulmus minor) also exhibits a similar leaf with smaller dimensions, ranging from 4 to 9 cm in length, rather than the 7 to 16cm of the wych elm. The wych elm also has larger buds compared to other elm species. It is the most distinct from other elms in that it rarely suckers but instead sets abundant viable seeds. 

Where to Find it

Wych elm is the only elm native to Ireland. Its natural range extends widely across Europe, encompassing regions from Ireland and the United Kingdom to Siberia, including Asia Minor. Thriving in higher elevations, these elms prefer moist soils and elevated humidity, a characteristic reflected in their Irish name, which translates to ‘mountain elm’. 

As a result of Dutch elm disease, wych elm is now rare. They are typically found as small trees in hedgerows rather than as large trees. Elm bark beetles, which spread Dutch elm disease, prefer trees with wider trunks, so hedgerow individuals are more likely to escape the disease. 

Cultural Importance

History | Myth, Legend, Folklore

History

Wych elm extensively populated the island of Ireland until about 3350 BC, after which it began to decline dramatically. For a long time, it was believed that this occurred as a result of large-scale woodland clearance that the first farmers undertook when developing land for agriculture during the Neolithic period (c. 4000-2500 BC). However, recent environmental archaeological evidence suggests that the decline had begun to occur before the advent of farming and that it may not have been due to human activities at all, but natural causes. 

In early Ireland (c. 400-1100 AD), the wych elm was considered one of the ‘commoners of the wood’. Elm leaves were valuable as fodder for cattle, while it is thought that the bark may have been used to make role. The value of the wych elm was such that if a person unlawfully damaged or destroyed one, they would incur a significant penalty fine.  

The term ‘wych’ is derived from the Old English word 'wice,' signifying suppleness or flexibility. It is thus unsurprising that elm wood was used to make bows and furniture. Similarly, it was a common choice for crafting wooden water pipes before widespread metal availability. Wych elm was also used in the construction of buildings. It is thought that 10,000 elm were used to construct the town of Londonderry in the 17th century. In addition, wych elm wood has been traditionally used to make coffins. 

Other parts of the wych elm were used to make dyes, and in famine times, the bark was ground to make meal for bread. 

With the significant depletion of Ireland’s forests by the late 17th century due to war and industry, wych elm, considered a valuable resource, was amongst the many species that landowners were required to plant in a bid to replenish timber reserves.  

Although, wych elm populations are still low in Ireland due to Dutch elm disease, the memory of the tree survives in many Irish placenames. For instance, the placename Lavagh or Leamhach, which translates as ‘place of elms’ is found in Counties Cavan, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Offaly, Roscommon and Sligo. Lucan or Leamhcán in County Dublin is slightly different pronunciation of the same name. Likewise, the placename Longfield or Leamhchoill, which translates as ‘elm wood’ is found in Counties Donegal, Derry, Leitrim and Monaghan. 

Myth, Legend and Folklore 

Wych elm is variously associated with protection, fertility, death and the underworld.  

In Scotland, sprigs of wych elm were placed in milk churns so that fairies would not take the butter. Wych elm was similarly seen as a guardian tree in Sweden, and pregnant women would touch it so that they would have an easy labour. In Irish myth and legend, elm is strongly associated with saints who deemed it to be a protective tree. In the same connection, it was often linked to holy wells. 

In some prehistoric northwestern European cultures, wych elm was held as a sacred tree, with one Gaulish tribe referring to themselves as the Lemovices or ‘the People of the Elm’. In classical mythology, the tree was believed to be associated with the portal to the underworld. This may relate to the belief that elm can stimulate prophetic dreams. Perhaps this belief is one of the reasons why wych elm was to make coffins; in order to convey the dead to the other world? 

 

Value to Wildlife

The wych elm plays a vital role in supporting wildlife by offering shelter, nesting sites, and a source of food for numerous birds and mammals. These animals consume the elm's seeds and feed on the array of insects inhabiting the tree.  

In Ireland alone, approximately 82 invertebrate species are documented to feed on the wych elm, including sawfly larvae, moth and butterfly larvae, weevils, and leaf hoppers. They support a diverse range of moth species that feed on various broadleaved trees. These include the brick, hebrew character, common quaker and scalloped hazel, peppered, light emerald and white-spotted pinion moths. The clouded magpie moth caterpillar specialises in feeding on wych and English elm.  

Threats

Wych elm faces a significant threat from Dutch elm disease, a fungal infection transmitted by elm bark beetles from Asia. This disease has impacted elm populations in Ireland since the 1970s, leading to a scarcity of mature trees. 

Elm bark beetles breed in the bark of decaying elm trees and then move to healthy elm trees, where they feed on the tender bark of twigs. During feeding, they introduce spores of the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi into the tree's water and nutrient channels (xylem). This disrupts water transportation within the tree, causing vessel blockages, leaf wilting, shoot dieback and eventual death. Due to Dutch Elm Disease, the wych elm has a vulnerable classification on the IUCN Red List of European species.   

To learn more about threats to Irish trees, visit 'Threats to Trees'.

Uses

The wood of the wych elm is known for its strength, durability, and water-resistant qualities, characterised by a tight and twisted grain. It has diverse applications in decorative turning, boat parts, furniture, wheel hubs, floorboards and coffins. 

The inner bark, possessing thickening properties, has been used to thicken soups. The young, slightly bitter leaves of the wych elm are edible and can be incorporated into green salads, cooked as a vegetable, or added to soups and stews. Furthermore, both leaves and flowers can be used in tea brewing.  

Throughout history, elm has been recognised for its wound-healing properties. The inner bark has been consumed for ailments such as diarrhoea and rheumatism and utilised as a mouthwash for ulcers.  

 

References

Irish Tree Explorers Network

Líonra Taiscéalaí Crainn na hÉireann

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